With the first case of China-linked coronavirus reported in US on Jan. 21st, 2020, this new pneumonia-like virus called 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is gaining global attention. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019. As of Jan. 22nd, 2020, 2019-nCoV has killed 17 people, with 509 confirmed cases in China.
In response to 2019-nCoV epidemic, GenScript announced today that all 2019-nCoV gene orders of Rush Gene Synthesis will be treated with the highest priority, following an announcement on Jan. 21st, 2020 that it offers free real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) reagent samples in China for laboratory diagnostic testing.
"GenScript fully supports the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccine. We promise that we will deliver all projects for 2019-nCoV epidemic as the top priority," said President of Life Science Group, Sherry Shao.
Learn more about how GenScript is helping scientists race to develop a vaccine against the deadly SARS-CoV-2 in our recent Nature article.
With the Rosetta interface design method, they developed protein readers that selectively recognize NS3a-drug complex. They designed some candidate scaffolds recognizing danoprevir/NS3a, including LRRs, DHRs, ferredoxins and helical bundles. One of DHR designs that showed modest drug-dependent binding to NS3a was used for further optimization. The final construct of danoprevir/NS3 complex reader, DNCR2, showed apparent affinity for the NS3a/danoprevir complex and no binding to apo NS3a or free danoprevir. Further biochemical analysis confirmed that DNCR2/danoprevir/NS3a form a 1:1:1 complex. These results proved that DNCR2 is a perfect danoprevir/NS3a reader protein. Other two readers, GNCR1 for grazoprevir/NS3 complex and ANR for apo NS3a, were developed with similar method.
What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are named by their characteristic royal crown like surface under electron microscopy. While proteins contribute to the crown like envelope and projecting spikes around it, the viruses depend on their single stranded RNA genome to replicate in the host cell. It is still unclear how exactly the viruses get into the host cell.
There are currently seven identified coronaviruses which can infect people according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus associated with the latest confirmed case in United States is determined as a novel type of coronavirus, 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), also referred as the "Wuhan coronavirus".
How does it spread?
Coronaviruses normally circulate among animals, but can be transmitted from animals to people in rare cases. The initial reported cases of the current outbreak in Wuhan, China are closely linked to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-people spread. However now it has been confirmed by Chinese officials that there is "definitely human-to-human transmission", which suggests higher chances of introduction of the novel virus.
How to prevent and treat?
There are no specific medicine or vaccine available now targeting human coronaviruses. Several teams of scientists in United States and China are developing vaccines for the novel virus, including vaccine biotechnology companies. Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX) announced Tuesday afternoon it has initiated development of a vaccine candidate in response to the first confirmed Wuhan coronavirus case in USA.
Laboratory testing
Chinese authority has identified the novel Wuhan coronavirus via next generation sequencing (NGS) from cultured virus or directly from samples of patients. On Jan 12th, China officially shared full genetic sequence data with World Health Organization (WHO) and on the GISAID platform. The data is of great importance of developing PCR test kits and WHO subsequently released interim guide for laboratory testing in suspected human cases.
